Hopes began to wane on Tuesday for the nine women and three children who fell into the sea in the southeastern Aegean on Monday after a boat carrying 27 migrants capsized, as coast guard officers continued their search for the second day.

Nine women and three children are believed to be missing from the vessel, which capsized while being towed by the Coast Guard after experiencing a mechanical failure off the coast of the islet of Farmakonisi.

According to local media, the vessel tipped over as one of the passengers scrambled to get off board. The migrants are believed to be from Somalia and Syria.

Sixteen people were rescued, including the alleged captain of the boat, aged 20, who has been arrested on charges of people smuggling.